By: Sainabou Sambou
Abdurahim Cole, better known as Pacole, once trained as a carpenter. Today he manages Riverview Organic Farm and serves as president of Farmers Pharmacy, cultivating crops many Gambians long believed could never thrive in the country’s climate.
Cole has spent 13 to 14 years in agriculture, the last decade focused on specialized farming. He began with ordinary crops before deliberately choosing strawberries, apples, coffee and other uncommon produce. “I started with ordinary farming like everyone else,” he said. “Then I decided to grow crops that many Gambians believe cannot grow well in The Gambia.” His motto remains simple: “There is nothing impossible.”
One of his standout successes is basmati rice. The story began when a Gambian woman known as Auntie Ramu, then on an international mission in Kuwait, watched one of Cole’s YouTube videos. Passionate about agriculture, she managed to bring basmati seeds into the country despite import restrictions on certain plant materials. She entrusted Cole with a single kilogram and challenged him to see what he could do.
Cole multiplied the seed through both rainy and dry seasons. That original kilogram has now expanded into a 50-kilogram bag. Rather than sell the seed, he distributes it free to members of Farmers Pharmacy. Each recipient returns one kilogram after harvest so another farmer can benefit. “It makes me happy,” Cole said. “Even if I don’t make as much money as I expect, I feel fulfilled because I can give seedlings to other farmers for free.” He aims to spread basmati rice across all four corners of The Gambia.
Fruits from the farm also draw strong demand. Most produce is sold through online platforms; items advertised in the morning are often sold out by the end of the day.
Cole has received no formal training or external support. Instead, he organizes training sessions for fellow farmers, turning his own experience into shared knowledge. He identifies a deeper challenge facing the sector: the negative image of farming among young people. “People think farming is for poor people or school dropouts,” he said. “In schools, farm work is often used as punishment, and that discourages young people.”
Cole is determined to reverse that perception. He presents himself in a modern, appealing way to show that agriculture can be rewarding and inspiring, hoping more young Gambians will choose to enter the field.
Through persistent experimentation and a willingness to share success freely, Cole continues to expand the boundaries of what is considered possible in Gambian farming.
